Remote control system



Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT orriee REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM Application February 1, 1935, Serial No. 4,550

5 Claims.

My invention relates to remote control systems, and particularly to remote control apparatus for controlling railway trafiic governing devices from a distant point. Some of the features of my invention have to do with the provision of means for obtaining a continuous indication, at a controlling oflice or station, indicative of the position or condition of apparatus units at a remotely located station; and in arranging for the control of such units over conductors extending between such stations employed in obtaining the continuous indications. The invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing as employed in the indication and control of a railway switch and of a combination of signals controlling trafiic over the switch and over a stretch of railway track with which the switch is associated. The invention may be considered to be an improvement on the Woodforde application, Serial No. 635,882, filed October 3, 1932, for Apparatus for the remote control of railway points, signals and the like.

I will describe the illustrated form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

Referring to the drawing, the ofhce equipment is that shown to the left of the dashed line, while the station equipment is that shown to the right thereof. The oflice and station are connected together by a combined OS indication and start conductor a combined indication and control conductor 02 or 03 for each group of control and indication functions to be performed between the oflice and station, and by a comm-on return conductor 0. The conductor 02 is herein employed as a combination control and indication conductor for a switch SW associated with a stretch of railway track D and a side track E, while conductor 03 is employed as a combination control and indication conductor for groups of L and R signals. It should be understood, however, that the invention has been applied to a switch and signal location merely for purposes of illustration and is not limited to such use. At the station the switch SW is operated by a switch machine SM of any suitable type, and this machine is in turn controlled by a switch control relay WR. As here shown, this relay is of the polarized type, that is, it is selectively responsive to the polarity of the current by which it is energized. Trafiic over the switch SW reversed is controlled by signals RB and LB, and over the switch normal by signals RA and LA. These signals are controlled by a polarized signal control relay HR.

The switch SW operates a pole-changer P which in turn controls a switch position repeating relay KR, so that this relay is energized in a normal or reverse direction according as the switch SW is in the normal or reverse position.

The portions of tracks D and E associated with the switch SW are provided with a track circuit comprising the usual track battery I5 and the usual track relay TR.

Located at the office in an interlocking tower, for example, is a switch control lever Ll for the control of the switch SW and a signal control lever L2 for the control of the R and L signals. Associated with these levers are polarized switch and signal indication repeating relays WP and HGP, respectively. These relays control the associated indication lamps in a manner which will hereinafterbe made clear. A battery X is located in the interlocking tower and another battery Y is located adjacent the switch and signal location. The battery at the interlocking tower has its positive terminal designated as BI and its negative terminal as NI, while the battery Y at the switch location has its positive terminal designated B2 and its negative terminal designated N2. Each of these batteries is tapped at the central point. The common conductor 0, extending between the tower and the switch and signal location, connects these centrally tapped points and they are designated by thereference character C.

As shown in the drawing, the switch SW is in its normal position and all of the signals are indicating stop, their R. lamps being energized over obvious circuits. The relay KR is energized in its normal direction since the switch SW controlling itis illustrated in its normal position. The switch position repeating relay WP at the interlocking tower is accordingly also energized in the proper direction to complete the circuit of a normal position switch indication lamp NW. Thecircuit over which the relay WP is energized extends-from a B2 terminal of battery Y through the normal contact and polar armature 32 and neutral contact 3! of relay KR, the indication conductor l3, the back contact and armature ll of relay ISA, combination indication and control conductor 02, the armature 8| of relay OSA and its back contact, the winding of indication relay WP to the terminal C and accordingly to conductor O, and over this conductor, to the negative terminal of the left half of battery Y. Since the R and Lsignals are all at stop the signal indication repeating'relay HGP is in its deenergized position, and at its neutral contacts has closed an obvious circuit for lamp L3. The lighting of this lamp informs the operator that all of the signals are at stop".

I will first assume that the operator desires to reverse the switch SW. To do this, he will move lever LI from the extreme left, its normal position, to the extreme right, its reverse position, thereby disconnecting the terminal BI of battery X from the conductor extending through resistance I5 and terminating in the front contact of armature 8| and connecting thereto the terminal NI of the battery X. He will follow this operation by momentarily operating the starting button SB. This button in operating, at contact 9| opens the operating circuit of an OS indication control relay OSR, and at its contact 92 completes an operating circuit from a terminal BI of battery X, through the winding of relay OSA, over a combined OS indication and start conductor OI, armature 4 of the track relay TR and its front contact, and winding of relay ISA to the common terminal C, and back over the common conductor 0 to the negative terminal of the left-hand half of battery X.

The relay OSA in operating, at its armatures 8| and 82 disconnects the indication relays WP and HGP from the combination indication and control conductors O2 and O3 and connects these conductors with the switch andsignal control levers LI and L2, respectively. The relay WP accordingly restores and at its neutral armature opens the circuit of lamp NW and closes an obvious circuit for the lamp L2. The lighting of lamp L2 at this time advises the operator'that the indication circuit has been disabled and that the switch control circuit is effective.

The relay ISA in operating, at its armatures II and I2 disconnects the combination switch and signal indication and control conductors O2 and 03 from switch and signal indication control conductors I3 and I4 and connects the combination indication and control conductors in circuits including the windings of the switch and signal control relays WR and HR, respectively. The relay ISA also, at contacts controlled by its armatures I I and I2, interrupts points in stick circuits of the associated relays WR and HR so as to deenergize either of these relays in certain instances if it was previously energized. In the present example, the energized relay WR opens its neutral contacts 2I and 23. The armature I I of the relay ISA, however, completes a circuit extending from the terminal NI of battery X, through the resistance I5, the front contact and armature 8| of relay OSA, over the combination indication and control conductor 02, through the winding of relay WR. to the common terminal C of the two batteries, and over conductor 0 to the positive terminal of the right half of battery X. The current flow in the traced circuit is now in the reverse direction to that employed in the previous operation of the WR relay, and this relay accordingly moves its polar armatures 22, 24 and 25 to the right, their reverse position, and also again closes its neutral contacts 2| and 23. The closure of contacts 23 and the reversal of the polar armatures 24 and 25 effects the completion of an obvious circuit over conductors I9 and 20 to the switch machine SM in a direction which is obviously reverse to that which is com-' pleted with the armatures 24 and 25 in their normal position. It will be obvious, therefore, that the switch machine will now operate to move the switch to its reverse position. When the operator restores the start button to its normal position, the traced circuit through relays OSA and ISA is again interrupted, thereby permitting these relays to again restore and thereby reestablish the indication control circuits inpolar armature 22 of relay WR and through the neutral contact 2I of this relay, resistance I1, the contacts controlled by armature II and the winding of relay WR to the common terminal C of the two batteries. Although the stick circuit through the relay WR is through the battery Y, instead of X, the direction of current flow is unchanged, and accordingly the relay WR sticks up I over the stick circuit traced.

' The switch SW, in moving to its reverse position, through the medium of its pole-changer P reverses the battery connections to the switch position indication control relay KR so that this relay becomes energized in the reverse direction, thereby moving its polar armatures 32 and 34 to the right, their reverse position. A new circuit is now completed for the switch position indication repeating relay WP which is the same as that initially traced except that, with the polar armature 32 in its reverse position, an N2 terminal of battery Y is substituted for a B2 terminal of this battery, and accordingly the current flow is now in the opposite direction to that initially traced. The relay WP, therefore, upon reenergizing, at the back contact of its neutral armature again opens the circuit of lamp L2, thereby indicating the successful movement of the switch SW to its full normal or reverse position as the case may be, and in this instance completes a circuit for the reverse switch position indication lamp RW by way of the front contact of its neutral armature and its polar armature in the reverse position.

It will now be assumed that the operator desires to restore the switch SW to its normal position. To do this, he will return lever LI to the left, its normal position, thereby disconnecting the terminal NI of battery X from the lever and accordingly from the front contact of armature BI and again connecting the terminal Bl to the lever and to the front contact of this armature. The operator follows by momentarily actuating the start button SB to again complete the circuit including the OSA and ISA relays.

These relays accordingly again operate to disconnect the conductors O2 and 03 from relays WP and HGP at the tower and from indication control conductors I3 and I4 at the switch and signal location. In this instance, the relay ISA at I its armature I I interrupts the previously traced stick circuit of relay WR and completes a circuit for this relay with the current flow now in the normal direction. The relay WR accordingly moves its polar armatures 22, 24 and 25 to the left, their normal position, and again closes the neutral contacts 2| and 23. It will be obvious from the foregoing that the direction of current flow over the conductors I9 and 20 extending to the switch machine SM is, by this operation of the relay WR, reversed so that the switch machine will function to restore the switch SW to its normal position. The switch SW in restoring to normal, through the medium of its pole-changer P, again restores the normal direction of current flow through the indication control relay KR. This relay accordingly moves its polar armatures 32 and 34 to the left, their normal position. As soon as the operator releases the button SB, the relays OSA and ISA again restore, thereby interrupting the control circuits and reestablishing the indication circuits over conductors O2 and 03. As in the previous example, the armature II in restoring again establishes a stick circuit for the relay WR. This stick circuit is the same as previously traced except that, with the polar armature 22 in its normal position a B2 terminal of the battery Y is substituted for the N2 terminal, so that cur rent flow in the new stick circuit of relay WR is in the same direction as last employed in operating it. In this instance, when the indication circuit including relay WP is completed, the direction of current flow is in the normal direction since the polar armature 32 of the switch position indication relay KR is now in engagement with its normal contact. The relay WP in operating accordingly restores its polar armature to the position in which it is shown, thereby reestablishing a circuit through the normal position switch indication lamp NW.

It will now be assumed that the operator desires to clear the signal LA to permit a train moving toward the left to pass over the track D. To do this, he will swing the signal control lever L2 to the left thereby connecting the negative terminal NI of battery X through the resistance It to the front contact of armature 82, and will then actuate the start button SB to again pick up relays OSA and ISA. This time the relay ISA at its armature II interrupts the traced stick circuit of relay WR, but without .effect, since, with the lever LI in its normal position, current flow through this relay is continued in the same direction as that flowing in the stick circuit. With the lever L2 in engagement with the terminal NI of the battery X, a circuit is now completed through the resistance I6, the front contact and armature 82, conductor 03, armature I2 and its front contact, through the winding of relay HR to the common terminal C of the two batteries, and over conductor 0, to the positive terminal of the right half of battery X. The current flow in this circuit is in the normal direction and, therefore, the polar armatures 42, 44 and 46 of the relay HR remain in their normal position as shown. The relay HR, following the release of button SB and the consequent restoration of relays OSA and ISA, remains energized over a stick similar to that traced through the relay WR. Since the switch SW is assm'ned to be in its normal position, a circuit is now completed for the LA signal control relay LAG. This circuit extends from a B2 terminal of battery Y through contact 3 of the track relay TR, the neutral contact 33 of relay KR, the polar armature 34 and normal contact of this relay, contact 43 of relay HR, the polar armature 44 and normal contact of this relay, and the winding of relay LAG to the terminal N2 of battery Y. The relay LAG now operates and at its armature II interrupts the circuit of the R lamp of the signal LA, and at the front contact of this armature completes a circuit through the G lamp of this signal. The relay LAG also at contact I2 closes a circuit from the N2 terminal of the battery Y over the indication control conductor I4, the back contact and armature I2, conductor 03, armature 82 and its back contact, through the winding of the H'GP relay to the terminal C, and over the conductor O to the positive terminal of the right half of battery Y. The current flow over the circuit traced is in the normal direction and accordingly the polar armature of the relay HGP remains in its normal position. The neutral armature of this relay in picking up opens the circuit of lamp L3 to indicate the clearance of a signal, and completes an obvious circuit including the signal clear indication lamp LG, thereby advising the operator that it is an L signal which has been-cleared. I

Should the switch SW be in the reverse position when the lever L2 is moved to the left, it will be obvious that the polar armature 34 of the switch position indication relay KR will be in its reverse position when the HR relay becomes energized. Under these circumstances the current flow over armature 34 is via its reverse contact, neutral contacts 45 of relay HR, the polar armature 46 and normal contact of this relay and the winding of relay LBG to terminal N2. The relay LBG, upon energizing, at its armature 73 interrupts the circuit of the R lamp of signal LB and closes the circuit of the Y lamp of this signal, and at its contacts 12 connects the N2 terminal of battery Y to the conductor I4 in the same manner as did the relay LAG.

If the signal lever L2 is moved to the right-hand position while switch SW is in its reverse position, the signal RB will be the one cleared for the reason that, under these circumstances, the HR relay will have moved its polar armatures to the right-hand position, and the signal control circuit will extend from the terminal B2 through the contact 3 of track relay TR, the neutral contact 33 of relay KR, the polar armature 34, and the reverse contact of this relay, contact 45 of relay HR, the polar armature 46 of this relay and its reverse contact, through the winding of relay RBG tothe terminal N2 of battery Y. The relay RBG, in operating, at it's armature BI interrupts the circuit through the R lamp of signal RB and closes a circuit through the Y lamp of this signal, and at its contact 62 connects a B2 terminal of battery Y to the conductor I4, thereby operating the HGP relay in the reverse direction to effect the lighting of the RG indication lamp.

If the lever L2 is moved to the right while the switch SW is in its normal position, the current flow over armature 34 of relay KR will be via its normal contact, neutral contact 43 of relay HR, the armature M of this relay and its reverse contact and through the winding of relay RAG to the terminal N2. The relay RAG accordingly operates and at its armature 5I opens the circuit of its R lamp and closes a circuit through its G lamp. The relay RAG also at its contact 57. connects a B2 terminal of battery Y to the indication control lead M to energize relay HGP in its reverse direction thereby lighting lamp RG.

Whenever track D or E becomes occupied, track relay TR becomes deenergized and at its contact 3 opens a point in the common operating circuit of all signal control relays, thereby insuring that all signals will be at stop while such track is occupied. The track relay TR also, at armature 4 interrupts a point in the operating circuit of relays OSA and ISA, thereby removing the control of all signals and of the switch from the operator while the track D or E is occupied. The relay TR at the back contact of its armature 4 OSR which accordingly operates and closes an obvious energizing circuit for lamp OS. This lamp in lighting advises the operator of the occupied condition of track D or E.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the same results accomplished and requiring five wires and a common between the two locations in the system hereinbefore referred to are accomplished by me by the use only of three wires and a common. It will also be apparent that, in my system of control, only one additional combination indication and control wire such as 02 or 03 for each additional combination of indication and control function will be required instead of two, as required by the former system.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claims is:

1. In combination with an ofiice and a station at which is located apparatus controlled from said oflice and other apparatus controlled at said station, a combined indication and starting conductor extending between said ofiice and station, a combined indication and control conductor ex tending between said ofiice and station and normally included in a circuit providing a continuous indication of the condition of said first specified apparatus at the station, means at said ofiice actuated over said first conductor by a change in condition of said other apparatus for indicating such change at the ofiice, relays at the office and station respectively for transferring said com bined indication and control conductor into a control conductor, and means at said oflice for energizing said relays over said combined indication and starting conductor.

2. In combination with an oiiice and a station at which is located apparatus controlled from said ofiice and other apparatus controlled at said station, a combined indication and starting conduci'or extending between said office and station, a combined indication and control conductor extending between said ofiice and station and normally included in a circuit providing a continuous indication of the condition of said first specified apparatus at the station, means at said office actuated over said first conductor by a change in condition of said other apparatus for indicating such change, relays at the office and station respectively for transferring said combined indication and control conductor into a control conductor, means at said office for energizing said relays over said combined indication and starting conductor, and means for preventing the energization of said relays while said other apparatus is in a particular condition.

3. In combination with an office and a station at which are located units of apparatus controlled from said oflice, a combined indication and control conductor extending between said ofllce and station, a circuit normally including said conductor serving to provide a continuous indication of the condition of one of said units at the station, a circuit including another conductor extending between said office and station normally including a relay at said ofiice under control of a second one of said units and serving to normally provide a continuous indication of the condition of such second unit, two control relays connected to said second circuit, one at said office and the other at said station for transferring said first conductor from said indication circuit into a circuit for controlling one of said units when said relays are energized, and means for removing said first relay from operative relation with said second circuit and for completing an energizing circuit for said two control relays for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with an ofiice and a station at which is located apparatus in part controlled from said oflice, a combined indication and starting circuit connecting said oflice with said station, a combined indication and control circuit connecting said oflice with said station, said circuits normally serving to provide a continuous indication of the condition of said apparatus at the station, two control relays one at said ofiice and the other at said station for transferring said second indication circuit into a control circuit for controlling the said apparatus associated therewith when said relays are energized, and means including a source of current and said control relays for transferring said first indication circuit into a starting circuit to thereby energize said relays for the purposes set forth.

'5. In a remote control system, a controlling station and a field station, apparatus units at said field station; a combined indication and control conductor, for certain of said units, extending between said stations; a second combined indication and control conductor, for another of said units, extending between said stations; means at the controlling station associated with the respective conductors and controlled by said apparatus units over their respective conductors to continuously indicate the condition of such apparatus units; means partly at the field station and partly at the controlling station for selectively controlling said units, a still further apparatus unit at the field station, a circuit including a third conductor normally including means at the controlling station controlled over said conductor by such further unit to indicate its condition; and means comprising a relay at the field station, a second relay at the controlling station, said third conductor, and a circuit switching device, for temporarily transferring said first and second conductors into operative relation with said second means for the purposes set forth.

HENRY S. YOUNG. 

